Boat steering mechanism mounting means



June 10, 1958 R. R. WEST 2,838,021

' BOAT STEERING MECHANISM MOUNTING MEANS Filed 001:. 25, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

ADOY/QWEST I ATTORNEY June 10, 1958 R. R. WEST BOAT STEERING MECHANISM MOUNTING MEANS ZSheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 25, 1955 IN VEN TOR. P0 YA. W537- BY WW I ATTORNEY United States Patent BOAT STEERING MECHANISM MOUNTING MEANS Roy R. West, Detroit, Mich. Application October 25, 1955, Serial No. 542,714 Claims. (Cl. 114-160) This invention relates to a boat steering mechanism and mounting means therefore.

Many of the smaller popular sized boats adapted to be propelled by an outboard motor and used on inland waters by fishermen and other sportsmen have very little deck area. What deck area is provided is usually at the bow of the boat. On such boats if it is desired to mount a steering wheel so that the motor can be steered by remote control, it has heretofore been'neces'sary to install a dashboard structure extending from gunwale to gunwale of the boat. One serious objection to the installation of such a dashboard is that it cuts down on the usable space within the boat. Further, it provides a barrier between the fore and aft parts of the boat making it extremely hazardous for the occupants to change position within the boat as must be done on occasion.

It is an object of the present invention to'provide an improved mounting structure for supporting a boat steering mechanism, the improved mounting structure comprising support bars constructed and arranged to be secured to only one gunwale of the boat and to be partially supported by the boat flooring. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a mounting structure which will permit the steering mechanism to be swivelly mounted, the swivel mounting of the wheel mechanism permitting the steering wheel to be adjusted to a position most satisfactory for the boat operator while maneuvering the boat.

Further objects and advantages and the features of construction embodied in the present invention will be apparent from the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the steering mechanism and mounting means oriented to a portion of a boat, the latter being shown in dot and dash outline.

Fig. 2 is a view taken substantially through line 22 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

'Fig. 3 is a view taken substantially through line 3-3 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a view in part similar to Fig. 1 showing the steering mechanism in a further position of adjustment.

Before explaining in detail the present invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

In the drawing there is illustrated, by way of example, a preferred embodiment of the steering mechanism and mounting structure as applied to a conventional small open deck boat, generally designated 10. As shown in dot and dash outline the typical small boat is provided with a short deck portion 11 at the bow thereof.

Frequently, a seat 12 is provided adjacent the deck portion 11. Additional seats, such as the seat 13, are provided at spaced intervals extending toward the stern of the boat. The transom (not shown) of the boat is utilized to support the outboard motor. Most small boats are steered by bodily swinging the motor about a substantially vertical pivot axis, the motor being provided with a steering handle. However, it is frequently desired to steer the boat from a position in the forward portion of the boat and by means of a conventional steering wheel. The most desirable position for the steering wheel-is just forward of a boat seat such as the seat 13. Heretofore, a support for the steering wheel has been provided by mounting a dash board structure extending from gunwale to gunwale of the boat.

It will be readily apparent that the mounting of such a dashboard cuts down on the usable space within the boat and also presents an obstacle that must be surmounted whenever the boat occupant desires to move from the stern portion to the forward portion of the boat. For example, the motor adjustments necessarily are made at the stern of the boat while the anchor usually must be raised from the bow of the boat. When one person is using the boat, he must attend tomotor adjustments, anchor raising and the like by himself.

The mounting structure embodied in the present invention extends only partially across thebeam of the boat. It comprises a horizontal bar 14 secured in any convenient manner to the gunwale 15 of the boat. As illustrated in Fig. 2, the bar end 16 projects into a block 17 secured by screws 18 to the gunwale 15. The bar end 16 may be threaded into the block 17 or held therein by a nut (not shown). The bar 14 is supported at its inner end 19 by a support bar or stanchion 20. As illustrated, the lower end 21 of the stanchion 20 is positioned in a block 22 secured by screws 18 to the boat.

flooring. The stanchion 20 angles upwardly toward the center of the boat and carries an elongated cap 23 on the upper end 24 thereof. The cap 23 is horizontally bored near its upper end to receive the inner end 19 of the horizontal bar 14. The connection may be in any convenient manner. For example, the end 19 of the bar 14 may be press-fit or threaded into the cap 23 as desired. Thus, the stanchion 20 supports the end 19 of the horizontal bar 14 in a vertical direction.

A further bar member 25 is provided to support the horizontal bar 14 in a fore and aft direction. The bar member 25 lies in a horizontal plane slightly below the horizontal bar 14. It is connected to the cap 23 in a manner substantially perpendicular to the bar 14. It is also connected to the gunwale 15 by a block 17 and screws 18, being substantially perpendicular to the gunwale at this point. Between its two points of support the bar member 25 is provided with a curve of any con- I venient radius. Since the boat operator normally will face forward throwing his weight against the steering wheel in a forward direction, the bar member 25 is attached to the gunwale 15 at a point well forward of the horizontal bar 14.

The steering wheel 26 is carried on a shaft 27 rotatably journalled in any convenient manner in a flanged hub 28. The flange 29 of the hub 28 is cut away at 30 for a reason to be explained. The hub flange 29 is secured by screws 31 tothe underside of a circular plate member 32 which may be made of wood. It will be understood that the shaft 27 projects through the plate member 32 and that the steering wheel 26 is mounted on the upper side thereof.

The plate member 32 has secured to the under side thereof by screws 33, spaced clamps 34 which frictionally engage the horizontal bar 14. It will be noted that the Patented June 10, 1958 0 axis of the horizontal bar 14 is below the axis of the shaft 27, the cut-away portion of hub 28 providing clearance for the bar 14.

At its end opposite the end carrying the steering wheel 26, the shaft 27 is provided with a drum 35. The drum 35 receives the cables 36 which pass through suitable pulleys 37 attached to the side of the boat. The cables extend to the stern of the boat where they are rigged in conventional manner to the motor. The cables translate turning movement of the steering wheel to the motor, pulling on the latter in one direction or the other to cause the desired turning movement of the boat.

A stop clamp 38 is provided to permit the wheel mounting to be held in a position toward the center of the boat in which the cables are maintained at their desired tension. The stop clamp is mounted on the horizontal bar 14 on the side of the wheel mounting toward the gunwale. The stop clamp 38 would always be set a sufficient distance inwardly of the gunwale to prevent the steering wheel from abutting the gunwale.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, two of the positions in which the steering wheel 26 may be positioned for convenient use are illustrated in solid outline. The position of the steering wheel 26 as shown in solid outline in Fig. 3 is as it would normally be for steering the boat when moving in a forward direction. By swivelling the wheel mounting 180 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3, about the bar 14, the steering wheel 26 would be made conveniently accessible to a person sitting in the seat 12. With the wheel mounting swivelled to the position shown in Fig. 4, that is 90 counterclockwise from the position shown in Fig. 3, the steering wheel 26 is readily accessible to persons on either side thereof.

It will be understood that the range of movement of the steering wheel mounting is not limited to 180. As illustrated in Fig. 3, the mounting may be swivelled approximately 30 more or less in a clockwise direction from the solid outline position to the dot and dash outline position if it is desired to provide additional knee room beneath the wheel 26 when the boat is being steered from the seat 13.

Although the mounting bars are shown attached to the starboard gunwale of the boat, it will be readily understood that it might be attached to the port gunwale. The cap 23 merely has to be bored to receive the ends of the bars 14 and 25 from either side to provide right or left hand mounting.

I claim:

1. A steering device adapted to be mounted on a boat comprising a single support bar, means adapted to be secured to a boat gunwale to support said bar at one end thereof, stanchion means supporting said bar at the other end thereof, said bar extending athwartship a distance less than the beam of the boat, a steering shaft having a steering wheel mounted on one end thereof and a cable receiving means on the other end thereof, hub means journalling said shaft, and means mounting said hub means for swivelling adjustment about said bar, the range of such swivelling adjustment being in excess of 180", said last mentioned means including means frictionally engageable with said bar to maintain said mounting device in adjusted position.

2. A steering device adapted to be mounted on a boat comprising a single horizontal support bar, means adapted to be secured to a boat gunwale to support said bar at one end thereof, stanchion means supporting said bar at the other end thereof, said bar extending athwartship a distance loss than the beam of the boat, a brace bar connected to said other end providing support for said bar in a fore and aft direction, a steering shaft having a steering wheel mounted on one end thereof and a cable receiving means on the other end thereof, hub means journalling said shaft intermediate the ends thereof, and means mounting said hub means for swivelling adjustment about said bar, the range of such swivelling adjustment being in excess of 180, said last mentioned means including means frictionally engageable with said bar to maintain said mounting device in adjusted position.

3. A steering device adapted to be mounted on a boat comprising a single horizontal support bar, means adapted to be secured to a boat gunwale to support said bar at one end thereof, stanchion means supporting said bar at the other end thereof, said bar extending athwartship a distance less than the beam of the boat, a brace bar connected to said other end providing support for said bar in a fore and aft direction, a steering shaft having a steering wheel mounted on one end thereof and a cable receiving means on the other end thereof, hub means journalling said shaft intermediate the ends thereof, said hub means having a flange portion, and means mounting said hub means for swivelling adjustment about said bar, the range of such swivelling adjustment being in excess of 180, said last mentioned means including clamp means carried by said flange and frictionally engageable with said bar to maintain said mounting device in adjusted position.

4. A steering device adapted to be mounted on a boat comprising a single horizontal support bar, means adapted to be secured to a boat gunwale to support said bar at one end thereof, stanchion means supporting said bar at the other end thereof, said bar extending athwartship a distance less than the beam of the boat, a horizontal brace bar connected at one of its ends to said other end of said support bar and adapted to be secured at its other end to said gunwale to provide support for said support bar in a fore and aft direction, a steering shaft having a steering wheel mounted on one end thereof and a cable receiving means on the other end thereof, hub means journalling said shaft intermediate the ends thereof, and means mounting said hub means for swivelling adjustment about said bar, the range of such swivelling adjustment being in excess of 180, said last mentioned means including means frictionally engageable with said bar to maintain said mounting device in adjusted position, said brace bar being curved to provide clearance for said steering wheel between it and said support bar.

, 5. A steering device for a boat adapted to be propelled by an outboard motor swingably mounted on the transom thereof, said steering device comprising a single horizontal support bar, means adapted to be secured to shoot gunwale to support said bar at one end thereof, stanchion means supporting said her at the other end thereof, said bar extending athwartship a distance less than the beam of the boat, a horizontal brace bar connected at one of its ends to said other end of said support bar and adapted to be secured at its other end to said gunwale to provide support for said support bar in a fore and aft direction, a steering shaft having a steering wheel mounted on one end thereof and a cable receiving drum on the other end thereof, hub means journalling said shaft intermediate the ends thereof, and means mounting said hub means for swivelling adjustment about said bar, the range of such swivelling adjustment being in excess of 180, said last mentioned means including means frictionally engageable with said bar to maintain said mounting device in adjusted position, said brace bar being curved to provide clearance for said steering wheel between it and said support bar, and cable means extend ing from said drum adapted to be attached to said motor whereby the latter may be swung in response to turning movement of the steering wheel.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,625,871 Robertson et al. Apr. 26, 1927 2,507,894 Dorn et al. May 16, 1950 2,629,356 Whiting Feb. 24, 1953 

